Having served on the coaching staff of North Dakota State prior to his arrival in Pembroke, as well as a stint with the United States Olympic Committee, Shane Richardson will embark on his ninth season as a collegiate coach, and his sixth alongside head coach Pete Shinnick at UNCP. Richardson has served as the defensive coordinator the last five seasons after serving a one-year stint as the linebackers and strength and conditioning coach for the Braves in 2006.

Richardson has led the Braves’ stop troops to impeccable heights over the last four years as the Black and Gold has ranked among the nation’s top-13 total defenses three times in that span, including boasting the country’s second-best total defense (226.6 yards allowed/game) in 2008. The Braves also took home the NCAA Statistical Championship in 2008 after pacing all 148 NCAA Division II squads in scoring defense (11.2 points allowed/game). UNCP has also finished among the nation’s top-15 teams in pass defense three times over the span as well, including the 2010 squad that ranked 11th nationally after surrendering just 152.5 yards per game through the air.

One of the first coaching hires by Shinnick upon his arrival in Pembroke, Richardson’s coaching career began in 2001 at Northern Michigan, his alma mater, where he was a graduate assistant charged with coaching the linebackers, while assisting with special teams, strength and conditioning and recruiting. That season, the Wildcats produced a pair of all-conference selections from the defensive side of the ball while turning in a respectable win-loss record.

As the linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Jamestown College in 2002, Richardson again helped produce off the field laurels as one of his players, defensive back Jay Lies, was named to the Engravers Edge all-America football team at season’s end.

A one-year stint at North Dakota State in 2003 may have produced one of Richardson’s most impressive credentials, however. With Richardson on call as a graduate assistant defensive backs coach, the Bison turned in one of the nation’s best defenses, finishing the season ranked sixth in rushing defense (81.4 yards/game), ninth in scoring defense (15.3 points/game) and 16th in turnover margin (+10).

En route to an 8-3 season clip, the Bison registered 20 interceptions and yielded just seven third quarter points over the course of the 11-game season. The performance produced a quintet of North Central Conference defensive players of the week, as well as a national defensive player of the week.

Following the completion of his collegiate education, the first stop of his career would take him to Iron Mountain (Mich.) High School in 2001 where he served as the school’s strength and conditioning coach.

A three-year starter at linebacker, Richardson lettered four times at Northern Michigan (1997-00), while earning all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference laurels in his final two seasons in the green and gold. A standout classroom performer, he was also decorated with GLIAC academic honors in 2000 as well.

Richardson earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education/social studies from NMU in 2001 and his master’s degree in physical education/athletic administration from North Dakota State in 2005. As part of NDSU’s advanced degree program, Richardson served a stint as an intern in 2005 with the United States Olympic Committee, specifically with USA Taekwondo. While with the USOC, he assisted in structuring and implementing a coaching development plan and coordinating a volunteer program.

Richardson and his wife, Jenna, currently reside in Lumberton. The couple is the proud parents of son, Ford, and daughter, Bo.

THE RICHARDSON FILE
Coaching Experience
2001: Iron Mountain (Mich.) HS (Strength)
2001-02: Northern Michigan (Linebackers)
2002-03: Jamestown (N.D.) College (Linebackers)
2003-04: North Dakota State (Defensive Backs)
2005-06: UNC Pembroke (Linebackers)
2006-Present: UNC Pembroke (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)

Education: Bachelor’s degree in secondary education/social studies (Northern Michigan, 2001); Master’s degree in physical education/athletic administration (North Dakota State, 2005)